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ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER Effective Date: September 13, 2023  Amends - GO 4.6.19 (January 30, 2009 ) Number: 4.6.19 Distribution: All Personnel Review Month: September Reviewing Authority: HRD / Employee Services Subject: Workers’ Compensation This order consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Policy 3. Definitions 4. Procedures 1. Purpose The purpose of this policy is to provide Workers' Compensation benefits for all Sheriff's employees in the event they become injured on the job. 2. Policy It is the policy of the Sheriff to provide Workers’ Compensation medical and wage loss benefits for all employees. 3. Definitions A. Secondary Employment – Any form of employment of a non -enforcement related nature other than with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. B. Notice of Injury – A report submitted via Blue Team to the Risk Management Staff and the Workers’ Compensation administrator detailing an employee’s on duty injury. 4. Procedure A. Employees injured on the job shall immediately notify their direct supervisor/manager. The supervisor/manager shall use the Work Re lated Injury Worksheet , as a reference to report the Notice of Injury in Blue Team . The supervisor/manager shal l complete the Notice of Injury in Blue Team within 24 hours of notification of the injury. The employee s’ immediate supervisor/manager may designate someone else to call in the First Report of Injury, as long as that person is not the injured employee. B. If the employee desires treatment or the supervisor deems it necessary, the employee shall report for treatment at one of the agency designated Walk -In Medical Care Facilities If the Walk -In Medical Care facilities are closed, care may be at one of the Advent Health Hospital emergency rooms. Should there be a life - threatening situation, the employee may report to any hospital emergency room center and follow -up care will be handled through the Walk -In Medical Care facilities. The employee will receive a Work/Duty Status form when they leave the 4.6.19, Page 2 of 3 Medical Care facility, this form will be scanned or delivered to Risk Management within 24 hours C. Employees are not required to go to an agency designated Walk -in Medical Care facillity , if they already have been release d to return to work by their authorized treating physician. D. Employees injured will be compensated full salary in lieu of workers’ compensation for the entire period of disability. The time will be posted as regular hours with using the payroll code “PWC.” The “PWC” code should only be used during periods of total disability when the employee is not able to work any regular or light duty employment. Employees shall provide their supervisors a do ctor’s note documenting the work status . The note will be scanned or delivered to Risk Management within 24 hours. Wage benefits from Workers' Compensation may be reduced by 25% if a safety violation occurs. E. Employees in a no -work or light duty statu s due to a Workers’ Compensation injury desiring to work any form of secondary employment (non -enforcement related) must first notify their Division Commander in writing to obtain approval. The Division Commander shall review the request. Approval must be obtained before secondary employment is worked. This requirement applies to all sworn and non- sworn employees. Sworn personnel will not work any enforcement related off -duty employment during a no -work or light duty status regardless of the compensation received. F. Employees are not financially responsible for any treatment received by an authorized treating physician for accidents prior to January 1, 1994. Effective January 1, 1994, when maximum medical improvement has been reached, the employee is o bligated to pay a co -payment of $10.00 per visit for medical services. The co-payment will not apply to emergency care provided to the employee. This includes any medically necessary items needed for the individual's recovery (generic drugs or single sour ce patented drugs, not available in a generic brand, physical therapy, medical equipment, etc.). Personnel may also be reimbursed mileage for any authorized follow -up treatment. Failure to receive authorization for treatment may result in the employee be ing responsible for the medical bill. Follow -up treatment for on -duty injuries must be approved. G. Follow -up Treatment 1. All follow -up treatment for work related injuries should be scheduled during normal duty hours and recorded as regular work hours. Supervisors shall note in the comments section “WC appoint.” The “PWC” payroll code will not be used for follow -up appoint ments unless the employee is in a no -work status. If scheduled during normal duty hours, compensation will be at the regular rate of pay. When an appointment is scheduled on a normally scheduled day off, flex time should be used. When the injury occurs at the end of a shift time spent at the hospital after normal work hours is recorded as overtime. 4.6.19, Page 3 of 3 2. If an employee works second or third shift, the time spent on authorized appointments should be treated as work time and his/her work schedule adjusted ac cordingly using flex time. Time begins when the employee leaves home and ends at his/her arrival